AMERICAN VOTERS SPLIT ON OBAMA S IMMIGRATION MOVE, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL FINDS; PRESIDENT S APPROVAL NEAR ALL-TIME LOW

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1 Tim Malloy, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Poll (203) Rubenstein Associates, Inc. Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) FOR RELEASE: NOVEMBER 25, 2014 AMERICAN VOTERS SPLIT ON OBAMA S IMMIGRATION MOVE, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL FINDS; PRESIDENT S APPROVAL NEAR ALL-TIME LOW American voters are divided on whether President Barack Obama should take action to address the immigration issue if Congress fails to act, as 45 percent say the president should issue an executive order while 48 percent say he should not, according to a Quinnipiac University National poll released today. At the same time, support for immigrants is at its lowest level ever measured by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll. Offered three choices on what to do about illegal immigrants: 48 percent of American voters say they should be allowed to stay, with a path to citizenship, down from 57 percent November 13, 2013, and the lowest this number ever has been; 11 percent say immigrants should be allowed to stay, but not be allowed to apply for citizenship, consistent with previous surveys; 35 percent say illegal immigrants should be required to leave the U.S., up from 26 percent 12 months ago and higher than this number ever has been. There is a wide gender gap on Obama s action, as women support it percent, while men oppose it percent. Support is percent among voters 18 to 29 years old, but drops among older voters, with voters over 65 years old opposed percent. Democrats support Obama s immigration move percent, with opposition at percent among Republicans and percent among independent voters. While President Barack Obama s popularity wallows, support for immigrants wanes as Americans look at immigration reform with ambivalence, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. American voters oppose percent Congress shutting down major activities of the federal government as a way to block Obama s immigration move. -more-

2 Quinnipiac University Poll/November 25, 2014 page 2 Only 44 percent of Republicans support a shutdown, with 47 percent opposed. Americans seem divided on immigration, but they agree on one thing: They don t want a government shutdown over President Obama s action on immigration, Malloy added. President s Approval Rating American voters give Obama a negative percent approval rating, close to his lowest-ever percent score in a December 10, 2013, Quinnipiac University poll. Democrats and voters under 30 years old are the only party, gender or age groups who approve of the president. Only 42 percent of American voters trust Obama more than Republicans in Congress to do what is best for the nation, while 47 percent trust Republicans more. It s good for the country that Republicans have taken over control of the U.S. Senate, voters say percent, but 67 percent of voters expect more gridlock in the next two years. Gridlock will be Obama s fault, 44 percent of voters say, as 42 percent would blame Republicans. American voters are happy the Republicans have the ball, but don t feel confident there will be a lot of scoring on the deal-making front, Malloy said. If that s the case, the numbers say blame will fall on Obama as much as Republicans. With the exception of voters born after 1985, Obama s approval is deep under water. Ransom for Hostages The U.S. should never pay ransom to terrorists who are holding American hostages, voters say percent, with support among all listed groups, including percent among voters in military households. American voters agree percent that paying ransom to terrorists encourages more hostage taking. Former Navy SEAL Robert O Neill should have remained quiet about his involvement in the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, voters say percent, but only 10 percent of voters, including 16 percent of voters in military households, say he should be prosecuted. From November 18 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,623 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit call (203) , or follow us on 2

3 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Approve 39% 6% 78% 34% 32% 45% 56% 41% 33% 33% Disapprove DK/NA TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (* High also 59% Mar 2009) APPROVE... Nov 25 Jul 02 Apr 02 Jan 22 Jan 08 Jun 04 Dec * 2013 Approve Disapprove DK/NA In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Very satisfied 2% 1% 3% 3% 2% 3% 5% 2% 3% 1% Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT Nov 25 Jul 08 Apr 02 Jan 22 Jan 08 Dec 11 Nov Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA Who do you trust more to make decisions that are good for the country, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Obama 42% 4% 85% 42% 35% 48% 60% 42% 37% 36% Reps in Congress DK/NA

4 31. Do you think it is good for the country or bad for the country that the Republicans have taken over control of the United States Senate from the Democrats? Good 51% 96% 9% 49% 59% 44% 36% 53% 54% 54% Bad DK/NA Do you believe there will be more gridlock or less gridlock in the final two years of the Obama presidency? More 67% 64% 72% 66% 67% 68% 63% 72% 68% 62% Less SAME(VOL) DK/NA If there is continued gridlock in Washington, who do you believe will be to blame, President Obama or Republicans in Congress? Obama 44% 77% 18% 39% 47% 42% 32% 42% 48% 48% Reps in Congress DK/NA Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Excellent 2% 1% 4% 1% 2% 2% 2% 1% 3% 2% Good Not so good Poor DK/NA TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? EXLNT+GOOD... Nov 25 Jul 02 Apr 02 Jan 22 Dec 10 Dec 10 Mar Excellent Good Not so good Poor DK/NA

5 35. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? Better 34% 17% 52% 36% 36% 31% 43% 34% 33% 28% Worse The same DK/NA TREND: Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? (* Low also 11% Sep 2011) BETTER... Nov 25 Jul 02 Apr 02 Jan 22 Dec 10 Jan 18 Oct * Better Worse The same DK/NA Do you support or oppose the health care law passed by Barack Obama and Congress in 2010? Support 40% 8% 77% 38% 34% 46% 57% 39% 38% 33% Oppose DK/NA TREND: Do you support or oppose the health care law passed by Barack Obama and Congress in 2010? SUPPORT... Nov 25 Jul 02 Apr 02 Jan 22 Jan 08 Oct 01 Jan Support Oppose DK/NA Do you think Congress should try to repeal the health care law, or should they let it stand? Should repeal it 48% 82% 12% 48% 54% 42% 35% 50% 49% 50% Should let it stand DK/NA

6 TREND: Do you think Congress should try to repeal the health care law, or should they let it stand? Nov 25 Jul 12 Apr 20 Feb 23 Nov 23 May 04 Jan Should repeal it Should let it stand DK/NA Do you think Congress will try to repeal the health care law or not? Yes 75% 68% 83% 74% 74% 75% 82% 71% 77% 71% No DK/NA If Congress tries to repeal the health care law, do you think it will be successful or not? Yes 30% 39% 24% 27% 31% 29% 32% 32% 32% 24% No DK/NA Do you think the United States military should have combat troops on the ground in Iraq or not? Yes/Should 37% 53% 24% 30% 44% 31% 33% 37% 40% 36% No DK/NA Yes/Should 45% No 49 DK/NA Do you believe the international coalition put together by the White House to defeat ISIS is working or not? Yes 19% 13% 29% 16% 21% 17% 15% 24% 19% 14% No DK/NA Yes 18% No 63 DK/NA 19 6

7 44. Do you think there are circumstances when the United States government should pay ransom to international terrorists who are holding American hostages, or should the United States government never pay ransom to terrorists under any circumstances? Yes/Should pay 21% 14% 31% 17% 16% 25% 41% 22% 14% 16% No/Never pay DK/NA Yes/Should pay 16% No/Never pay 77 DK/NA Some people say the United States should not pay ransom to terrorists because it encourages more hostage taking. Do you agree or disagree? Agree 83% 89% 76% 84% 87% 79% 69% 84% 88% 83% Disagree DK/NA Agree 88% Disagree 9 DK/NA Do you think that Robert O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL who claims to have fired the shots that killed Osama bin Laden, should have publicly disclosed his involvement or do you think he should have remained quiet about the mission? Yes/Disclosed 19% 25% 13% 19% 21% 18% 19% 21% 18% 18% No/Remained quiet DK/NA Yes/Disclosed 20% No/Remained quiet 71 DK/NA 9 7

8 47. Do you think Robert O'Neill should be prosecuted for publicly disclosing that he killed Bin Laden or not? Yes 10% 6% 12% 10% 10% 9% 9% 11% 10% 7% No DK/NA Yes 16% No 75 DK/NA Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? Legal all cases 23% 15% 37% 20% 21% 25% 34% 25% 23% 16% Legal most cases Illegal most cases Illegal all cases DK/NA TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? COMBINED LEGAL ALL & MOST CASES Nov 25 Oct 04 Aug 02 Feb 07 Feb 23 Aug 02 Apr Legal all cases Legal most cases Illegal most cases Illegal all cases DK/NA As you may know, in 2013 the House of Representatives approved legislation that would ban virtually all abortions nationwide after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape and incest that are reported to authorities. Would you support or oppose such legislation? Support 60% 76% 46% 56% 61% 59% 57% 61% 63% 58% Oppose DK/NA

9 50. Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently living in the United States? A) They should be allowed to stay in the United States and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. B) They should be allowed to remain in the United States, but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. C) They should be required to leave the U.S. A) Stay/Citizenship 48% 27% 67% 53% 44% 51% 64% 47% 47% 42% B) Stay/Not citizen C) Not stay DK/NA TREND: Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently living in the United States? A) They should be allowed to stay in the United States and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. B) They should be allowed to remain in the United States, but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. C) They should be required to leave the U.S. STAY/CITIZENSHIP Nov 25 Nov 13 Jul 12 May 31 May 02 Apr 04 Nov A)Stay/Citizenship B)Stay/Not citizen C)Not stay DK/NA If Congress does not act to address the immigration issue, do you think Barack Obama should or should not take action using executive orders? Yes/Should 45% 20% 74% 40% 39% 50% 59% 48% 41% 36% No/Should not DK/NA Do you support or oppose Congress shutting down major activities of the federal government as a way to stop President Obama from using executive orders to address the immigration issue? Support 25% 44% 6% 22% 33% 17% 21% 24% 29% 22% Oppose DK/NA